Thursday, June 16, 2011

Out Of The Closet

Yesterday I was at Costco and I ran into a friend of my daughter's. She commented that I hadn't been writing much lately. Um, yeah.... sorry about that.

First of all, I've been on vacation. We went to a friend's condo at Lake Las Vegas and soaked up Vitamin D for a week. It was awesome and I highly recommend it.

Secondly, I've been running out of steam on the blog for a while now. I feel like I'm in a death spiral of no motivation = fewer postings = less feedback = no motivation.

And thirdly, and most importantly, I've changed. I've been blogging for four years now and in that time the way I cook, what I cook, and the way I look at food has changed a lot. A lot of the food in my earlier postings I just wouldn't make today.

It's been a combination of exposure to other food bloggers and my daughter's relentless quest to learn about nutrition that has led me to this point. And now I feel it's time to come out of the closet. Here's the big reveal.......I'm a suburban hippie.

I buy organic. Whenever possible I make food myself. I have jars of strange food/science projects on my counter and in my cupboards bubbling, fermenting, and growing strange pond scum on top. And most importantly, as it relates to my blog, I've cut way back on sugar. The cookie jar is frequently empty. I only bake when I know I'll be able to give most of it away, as I've become convinced of the negative health consequences of eating lots of sugar.

This might seem like a weird detour in my life, if you only know me superficially, but it's actually a logical progression. I've always had quite a bit of hippie in me. My babies were all midwife-attended births, 3 of them at home. I've washed enough cloth diapers to fill a landfill (but they don't). I nursed my babies an average of 2 years (Sarah brought the average down quite a bit, and I apologize for that, honey). My primary care physician is a chiropractor. It's only logical that I should start to care about the quality of food that I put into myself and my family.

What does this mean for Cookie Baker Lynn? I had thought about having a complete blog overhaul, maybe changing my name to My Hippie Kitchen (already taken), and focusing only on the weird things I'm experimenting with in my kitchen. But really, I'm still me. And I still love to bake. So it's going to be a mix. Some of the evil white sugar stuff I'm known for, as well as some of my hippie living stuff. And I'll throw in some health and nutrition rants occasionally, just to see if I can't shake off those two remaining commenters.

So, before you delete me forever from your RSS feed, what do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

41 comments:

I went through the same blog identity crisis! My life doesn't revolve around baking the same things anymore (I just blogged about kale chips!). I can't handle using so much chocolate, sugar, and butter, but blogging is a fun outlet for me. I would love for you to continue blogging and to adjust as you see fit. We all change and that is half the fun of blogging...watching as people evolve on their blogs! :)

We all go through stages and grow in our journey through life. Your blog is an extension of that. One wise woman said to me that you have to blog for yourself and if you are thinking about what everyone else wants then you are doing it for the wrong reason.I decided to follow my heart and you should too:D

I have been pretty much silently following your blog for a few years now. I just wanted to hop on and comment to tell you that I really enjoy your writing! Not only have I baked and enjoyed many of your recipes, but the stories that go along with them are always great. I bet there are a lot of others like me who haven't made themselves known to you but still enjoy your blog greatly. And I would gladly continue to follow your blog if it took a turn for the hippie. I think many people are becoming more conscious of what they eat and feed to their families, and you would have no trouble maintaining a following. I say go for it!

Do what makes you happy. If you are passionate about what you are writing about here the passion will be what others feel while reading and they will either share in that passion or move on. Either is ok! :) For me having a blog is not about having an audience, it is a creative outlet that I enjoy. Readers are an added bonus, but not necessary.

Do what makes you happy... but I have to say that I'm excited. That is how I cook, most of the time. But sometimes you just need an amazing cake or cookie or brownie or muffin... or the list could go on. I'm excited :)

Just do what you feel. Good god, I'll still be here and you will remain in my Google Reader regardless of whether or not you post and regardless of what you post or cook. Hell, I don't even book or bake. That's my husband's department. I actually heard myself say to him as I stood in front of the open refrigerator the other day, "Where's the mayo?" (now if I didn't buy it, and didn't put it away, why on earth would I be expected to know where it is?)

I love reading about what you post, but I have to confess the main reason that I've kept my subscription is because of my loyalty to your Killer Crack PB Fudge, which I make every Christmas! We too have taken a turn towards healthier eating and I rarely bake anymore. I would LOVE to read more about your new direction! Did you hint that you are making kombucha? Would love to see a post on that. :)

I think you know I'm a pretty huge fan. I'll read no matter what you write. I kinda know how you feel though, I wrote a post a few months ago called "The Weekend of Bake What you Feel" where I was feeling a bit stale (I obviously haven't been doing this too long :)). I think that's the key, just bake/cook what you feel and you'll be good. And if that means that you post a bunch of hippie-tree-hugging recipes then that's pretty "groovy" and perhaps even "far out." Can you dig?

Pretty much what Angie said! I've been reading your blog for quite a while now, but had never actually commented. Though I do love the recipes you post, I also really enjoy your writing, and that is what keeps me coming back here, of all the baking blogs out there. Plus, though I'm a sugar addict - and that is probably not going to change - I'm also a bit of a hippy at heart, and so I can't wait to hear about your experiments!

I think healthy food and the occasional nutrition rant would be nice! Change can be good and sometimes is necessary to stay happy. So do what you think is best, I'll still be here following and reading :)

It was like reading my life. I've lost a lot of my blog mojo too and guess what...I'm a hippie too. Always have been. I'm feeling lots of the same things as you. I hate to see CBL go, but something new would be great too. Maybe just throw some cookies in there from time to time huh?? LOL

while i usually don't comment much and just follow blogs, i want to say that i've always loved reading your blog. and i think many others would agree with me that we would all enjoy continuing to read about your new direction in cooking and blogging. and healthier and natural options are always welcome!

Love the "confession"! I think a lot of us who love to bake also strive for balance and err on the side of healthy eating over sugar-induced comatose. I for one would totally love to hear about all your new creations (fermentations included). After all, who doesn't love a little kefir in their "buttermilk" pancakes? :)

You keep writing and I'll keep reading. :) And I'd love to see what kinds of healthier recipes you come up with as well. There was a point recently when I thought about cooking my way through your entire blog when I realized that if I did that I would be the size of a hippo. I definitely refer to your blog when I need to bake a treat, and I recommend your blog all the time, but if you've got healthier recipes you've discovered and loved, please share. :D

I've been silently following your blog for quite a while, but I'd like to comment here.This is your blog and you should be able to blog about whatever you like. I have many food intolerances and health issues,so whatever I bake for others, I never eat. I also eat organic (as much as possible), make homemade granola, and have to watch what I eat (simple, bland).Keep blogging and I'll read whatever you're blogging about, because I'm interested in lifestyle information and recipes. Thank you.

Sounds like a good idea to me....I do occasionally make the sugary stuff, but pretty much I find that in most recipes I automatically cut the sugar in half. It's usually still sweet enough.I'd love to hear about your kitchen science experiments. I think many people are adjusting the way they eat these days and that's a good thing.It's your blog...write what you want.

I don't know if I've ever left a comment on your blog, but I have you bookmarked and you are one of my favorites! I think it has come through in your posts that you're a little bit of a hippie, or at least health-conscious, but that's one of the reasons I enjoy your blog. The recipes you post that use healthier or use unusual ingredients are most interesting because they are different. If you are experimenting with new ingredients or combinations, I would love to see posts on that. Really, there's only so many chocolate chip cookie and banana bread recipes out there, so mixing it up with something different is enjoyable from a reader's perspective. As much as I enjoy baking, I am a pretty healthy eater otherwise, so I understand that not all posts can be butter-laden recipes and I'd appreciate seeing a mix of healthier recipes and good old classics.

Never commented before but want to say I love the idea. You are exactly where I am. Love to bake, but also love being good to my body and the earth. It's a delicate balance I'm trying to learn. I can't wait to see what you have in store.

I think it's a great idea! I'm that's why i watch so many different blogs, I'm always looking for something new or interesting to try, and I try (key word here) to stick to healthy things. Although i love my baked goods. I can't wait to see more from you!

Hmm, threaten to leave off blogging and get more comments.If that had been your plan it would be good enough but look at all the great things that have been said as comments on this post.Having had the pleasure of meeting you I think it is safe to say that your hippie ways are only one facet of the jewel that is Lynn...and baking cookies is only another facet. Seeing lots of other facets (and more about those pond scum experiments please) will be a pleasure for this reader. GO Lynn!

I so understand, Lynn! I keep telling friends who ask about my poor neglected blog that I haven't made/eaten anything blog worthy in a while now! Simple salads and such, and not much baking lately. Health is definitely a concern, and it isn't easy to blog healthy, for me anyways. I still check in on my favorite blogs once in a while, even if I haven't been very good at commenting. And when I do, I can't help but write a whole novel! ;)

I say to absolutely go for it!! "Do what you love and love what you do." That was my motto as I made the switch from a photography blog to a craft/DIY blog. I was very hesitant and unsure about making the change but I am so glad I did it! Oh and thanks for stopping by today and leaving a lovely comment :)